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MEMPHIS, Tennessee -Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) President and Chairman Kimberly A. Reed on Thursday officially kicked off the second phase of EXIM's All America Initiative during the National Association of State Chambers (also known as the Council of State Chambers) Virtual Winter Meeting, underscoring EXIM's robust commitment to supporting small businesses as they compete in the global marketplace.

Recognizing that state chambers of commerce are the leading voices for U.S. business in states across the nation, Chairman Reed joined National Association of State Chambers Chair Mark Wilson, who also is the Florida Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, to discuss how EXIM and the National Association of State Chambers and individual state chambers are partnering to continue the nationwide outreach and education initiative.  EXIM Chief Banking Officer Steve Renna also participated in the Winter Meeting.

In September 2020, Chairman Reed announced completion of the first phase of EXIM's All America Initiative, during which EXIM officials held educational and outreach events in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories to highlight how American companies can utilize EXIM support to grow their business through exporting. In October 2020, Chairman Reed and Chair Wilson announced the EXIM-National Association of State Chambers partnership for the second phase.

"Supporting U.S. small business is a top priority for EXIM, and I want to thank National Association of State Chambers' Chair Mark Wilson and the leadership of all of the state chambers of commerce across our nation as we kick-off this new All America partnership to reach, educate, and inform even more small businesses about EXIM's tools to help them enter, compete, and succeed in the global marketplace through exporting their great 'Made in the USA' products to the world," said Chairman Reed.

"Making America more competitive is what State Chambers of Commerce and EXIM do and by partnering together to grow American jobs and exports, the National Association of State Chambers and EXIM are helping America compete," said Chair Wilson.

Chairman Reed joins leadership of the National Association of State Chamber (virtually) during their Winter Meeting to kick off the second phase of EXIM's All America Initiative.

"Since May 2019, when a quorum of the Board of Directors was restored, EXIM has authorized more than 2,900 small business transactions," said EXIM Senior Vice President of Small Business James G. Burrows, Jr. "This new phase of the All America Initiative will allow EXIM to continue serving our current small business clients and reach new ones who can utilize our financing solutions to grow their businesses through international sales."

The nationwide outreach effort was launched by Chairman Reed in May 2019 after a quorum of the EXIM Board of Directors was restored, with a goal of reaching, educating, and informing U.S. companies of all sizes-with a particular focus on small businesses-about how they can leverage EXIM's financing tools and resources to increase their international sales, showcase their "Made in the USA" products, and sustain American jobs.

During the first phase of the All America Initiative, Chairman Reed and EXIM Board Members Judith D. Pryor and Spencer Bachus, along with EXIM staff members, held in-person and virtual events throughout the United States with stakeholders, including with companies, Chambers of Commerce, Regional Export Promotion Program (REPP) members, trade associations, and other organizations. In addition, EXIM launched the All America Initiative video to further raise awareness about the agency's programs via social media.

In the second phase of the All America Initiative, EXIM will partner with the National Association of State Chambers to deliver critical products and services to businesses through digital tools like webinars and video conferences with the association's members.

EXIM Chief Banking Officer Stephen Renna and Florida Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mark Wilson, who also serves as Chair of the National Association of State Chambers, participate in the announcement.

Nearly 90 percent of EXIM's total authorizations directly support small businesses. As part of EXIM's reauthorization, Congress directed the agency to build on its robust support of small business even further, and the All America Initiative underscored EXIM's commitment to fulfill that mission. In addition, EXIM has provided COVID-19 (coronavirus) relief measures for U.S. exporters and financial institutions that work in tandem with the agency's existing programs.

Small business owners can learn more about EXIM's products and services, or request a consultation, here.

To view the All America Initiative video, please click here.

ABOUT EXIM:

EXIM is an independent federal agency that promotes and supports American jobs by providing competitive and necessary export credit to support sales of U.S. goods and services to international buyers. A robust EXIM can level the global playing field for U.S. exporters when they compete against foreign companies that receive support from their governments. EXIM also contributes to U.S. economic growth by helping to create and sustain hundreds of thousands of jobs in exporting businesses and their supply chains across the United States. In recent years, approximately 90 percent of the total number of the agency's authorizations has directly supported small businesses. Since 1992, EXIM has generated more than $9 billion for the U.S. Treasury for repayment of U.S. debt.

For more information about EXIM, please visit www.exim.gov.